Technology is a powerful tool for outplacement – if you know how to use it

Can you believe there are still people who doubt the power of technology?

Recently, a legacy outplacement services firm tried to position technology as the enemy of a successful job search in a press release. It’s as if they think transitioning workers just sit in front of their home computer hoping a new job will magically land in their inbox!

We’re not surprised by this stance. After all, legacy outplacement firms have made huge investments in brick and mortar and an approach that is becoming less and less popular in a world that continues to welcome technological innovation.

And this wouldn’t be the first time naysayers tried to discount technology’s power in order to cling to older models and methods.

Does anyone remember the quote from IBM President Thomas J. Watson?

Then there was what Ken Olsen, founder of legendary minicomputer company DEC, said about the need for personal computers:

“There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home.”

Doubters of technology have been turning thumbs down for centuries. It was way back in 1899 that Charles H. Duell, commissioner of the U.S. patent office, made his famous proclamation:

“Everything that can be invented has been invented.”

Technology is not the enemy. It’s not a crutch. It’s what makes job searches far more effective today than they have ever been. And we’re not talking about blind emails to job boards, but useful leads and helpful advice.

At RiseSmart, we leverage technology and combine it with one-on-one support from our trained transition specialists in our next-generation outplacement solution, Transition Concierge. That combination of technology and high-touch, human interaction is the power behind our approach, which helps us place transitioning workers 59% faster than the national average.

That’s what this is all about – finding transitioning workers new jobs fast. To do that, we’re using all the best tools available, and leaving the doubters behind.